Community briefs

The Gulf Coast Corvette Club of Bradenton will host a car show to benefit Toys for Tots car show.

The event will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at Wal-Mart, 6225 State Road 64 E., Bradenton.

The show is open to all years of cars and trucks. The fee to enter a vehicle is $20 or a new, unwrapped toy of equal value.

UNIVERSITY PARK

Blood bank

seeks donors

Suncoast Communities Blood Bank is looking for people to donate blood.

A blood drive will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday in the parking lot at the University Park Country Club, 7671 Park Blvd.

All donors will receive a wellness check and will be entered in drawings for a one-year YMCA membership and lunch for two at the University Park Grille.

New donors must bring photo identification. For more information or to make an appointment, call Rita Schwanke at 351-3502.

LAKEWOOD RANCH

Event features Santa and entertainment

There will be plenty to see and do at the "Holidays Around the Ranch & Holiday Craft Market."

The event will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Lakewood Ranch Main Street.

The Dancing Heads of Florida will provide interactive family entertainment. Local crafters will show and sell items that include soaps, jewelry and wreaths. At several tables, children will create items to take home.

Santa Claus will be there and pose for pictures in his castle in front of Raymond James & Associates. The switch will be flipped that lights the tree over the fountain on Main Street, and carolers will sing holiday songs.

The first Snowman Festival is being offered by Friends of the Brown Foundation, a new nonprofit organization that provides support and financial assistance to families of children fighting cancer.

Those interested in entering a snowman for display can find information at www.teambrown.org. The organization also will sell tickets for $100 for a chance to win a 2008 528i BMW. The winning ticket will be drawn Jan. 4 during the Music on Main event.

You are invited to submit news about people new to your business, events your organization is planning, honors recently bestowed and other items of interest to readers.

The newspaper publishes this column as space permits.

News releases must be received two weeks before publication date. Releases should include the name of the sponsoring organization, a description of the event, the date, time and address for the event, and a name and telephone number of a contact person. Photo submissions also are welcome, but they cannot be returned.